Syracuse downs Seton Hall to open Big East tourament

March 13, 2013|The Sports Xchange

NEW YORK -- The final meeting between Syracuse and Seton Hall in the Big East Conference tournament will be remembered for a nine-minute, 23-second sequence during Wednesday's quarterfinal round in Madison Square Garden.

No. 19 Syracuse (24-8), seeded fifth, found itself in a battle with the 12th-seeded Pirates (15-18) but regained its composure to go on a game-changing run en route to a 75-63 win.

With the score tied 46-46 and 12:58 left, the Orange used a 19-2 burst to open a 65-48 lead with 4:44 to play. Brandon Triche scored seven of his 17 points in the spurt and C.J. Fair contributed six of his 16 points.

The five-time tournament champion Orange will play fourth-seeded Pittsburgh in the semifinals on Thursday.

James Southerland led Syracuse with 20 points, including six 3-pointers.

Syracuse and Seton Hall, both charter members of the Big East, will be going separate ways next season. The Orange are headed to the ACC and the Pirates will be part of the new Big East.

Aaron Cosby led Seton Hall with 22 points.

Syracuse point guard Michael Carter-Williams dished out 14 assists, including eight in the second half.

With its roster depleted by injuries, Seton Hall received little contribution from its bench. Tom Maayan, Haralds Karlis and Aaron Geramipoor didn't register a point in 17 combined minutes. Baye Moussa-Keita added in eight points off the Syracuse bench.

Syracuse never led in the first half but drew even at 34 when Moussa-Keita made one of two from the free-throw line with 40 seconds left.

Seton Hall was patient against Syracuse's 2-3 zone in the first half. Good ball movement led to open looks on the perimeter and Smyth took advantage by burying three of the Pirates' six 3-pointers.

Kyle Smyth scored nine points, all from beyond the arc, when Seton Hall jumped out to a 16-6 lead, but he was shut down in the second half.

Syracuse countered with a 8-0 spurt on a layup from Carter-Williams and two 3-pointers by the 6-8 Southerland, who scored 17 points, to pull within two points at 16-14.

NOTES: Syracuse has posted a winning Big East record in 32 of 34 seasons. … Triche's 139 starts are second in Syracuse history behind Derrick Coleman's 140. … Junior swingman Fuquan Edwin ranks fourth on Seton Hall's steals list with 215. … Syracuse has won at least 20 games in 35 of the 37 years that Jim Boeheim has been the coach. … Carter-Williams, who is fourth in NCAA Division I assists average at 7.8 per game, received the Big East's Most Improved Player Award.